Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Just as Gabe crouched down, a young gang banger with his pants around his ankles walked into the room trash talking to someone behind him. The other young man followed behind, and they laughed about whatever they were saying.
They got about six feet from me before noticing that something wasn’t right. Seeing Slick’s body on the floor and no Gabe, they went into a flurry of motion. A length of chain hitting him square in the face silenced him from calling out. Moaning, he went down hard clutching his face in his hands.
The other tried to swing a punch at him, but Gabe was just too good. With one well-placed punch, he took the kid down. The kid’s body hit the chair Gabe had previously occupied, and crushed it to pieces. Walking over to his prone body, he bent down and twisted the kid’s neck, breaking it swiftly.
“Gabe, watch out!” I croaked when I noticed the first boy.
The first boy stood on shaky feet to come after Gabe, but he was on a rampage. He took the kid out with two hits, one to the kidneys and one to the temple. I closed my eyes as I saw him bend down next to the kid’s fallen form.
Another audible crack filled the air, but I wasn’t upset. Far from it, actually. Opening my eyes, I watched as Gabe’s chest heaved. He dropped down to his knees beside me and started untying my hands. The chain clinked against the side of my chair, but he got me loose quickly, and I threw myself into his arms.
Tears streamed down my face, and I shook as I sobbed into his t-shirt covered chest.
“Come on, we’ve got to go. There’re more, and I don’t want to be here when they find out.” Gabe said as he eased me slowly to my feet.
Gabe went to Slick’s body, dug into his pockets. He produced a pair of keys, and a brand new iPhone. Pushing him onto his stomach, he wrenched the pistol out of the waistband of his jeans, and palmed it expertly. He checked the clip, and slide making sure it had bullets, and was loaded before we moved. We went to the very edge of the room, hugging the wall. He put my hand to the waistband of his jeans, and started our progress forward.
“Call Sam.” He whispered.
Taking the phone, I dialed the number for Free since I didn’t know Sam’s number.
Jack’s terse voice filled my air. “Hello?”
“Jack.” I whispered.
“Ember. Is Gabe with you? Where’re you at?”
“We’re at some sort of meat packing plant. We were in an accident, and a few of the gang members took us. Gabe says there are more, but we don’t see any as of yet.” I explained.
“I’m running a track on this phone. Put it in your pocket, but leave it on the line with me. Be careful.” Jack said.
I did as I was told, and followed Gabe. Once at the door, he paused listening to the sounds of voices coming from the left of the door. He pushed me back flat against the wall and stepped to the other side just before they entered.
There were two men dressed in jeans that were around their knees and oversize blue t-shirts. They never saw it coming either. Two quick chops to the neck and both men went down hard. I’d really have to learn this trick. The next trick I didn’t want to learn though.
He placed his big booted foot on each man’s neck and pushed down, a loud crunching noise was the result, and I was nearly hurling by the time he was finished with them both.
I knew why he was killing them, he didn’t want them to come up behind us or sound the alarm. It didn’t make it any better to stomach though. He turned left once he was satisfied with the look of the hallway, and we hurried along following the glare of sunlight shining through a window.
He took stock of our surroundings, as we went; his eyes never still. We got to the window, and he hoisted me out after making sure all was clear. We went to the back of the lot where there were trees, and hauled ass.
He made me run. I haven’t ran in seven months, and you would think that being in somewhat decent shape before I got pregnant that I’d have some sort of stamina, but I didn’t. I was panting and gagging by the time we made it half a mile into the woods. Stopping at a nearby tree, I rested my forearm against it, heaving breath in and out, holding my vomit at bay.
Reaching behind me, Gabe took the phone out of my pocket and started talking to whoever was on the line. In the back of my mind, I discerned pickup, Jefferson’s, and hurt, but I was so sick, sore, and tired that I just couldn’t concentrate anymore.
I fell down to my knees, and then rolled over onto my back, hoping to alleviate some of the throbbing. I placed my hand on my stomach, probing. I was rewarded with a sharp kick where my fingers were poking, and I smiled hugely.
Thank God, he was okay. I don’t know what I would have done if I went through all of the agonizing weeks of my second trimester, worrying whether I’d miscarry or not, just to get him taken away from me once I didn’t have to worry anymore.
Gabe dropped down to his knees beside me, placing his hand over my stomach, giving me a concerned look. The baby kicked his hand, and his lip curled up at the side once he felt the baby move.
“Can you walk another mile? I have Sam picking us up on Sixth Street. It’s just through those woods over there.” Gabe gestured to the woods behind me.
Groaning, I rolled to my stomach and pushed up on hands and knees before getting to my feet. A hiss sounded from behind me, and I looked over my shoulder as Gabe watched me get to my feet. He traced his fingers down my neck, and I flinched.